Courtney Hadwin’s journey from teenage viral phenom to bold, genre-defying artist takes a huge leap forward as she announces her debut album LITTLE MISS JAGGED, set for release on 12th September. To mark the announcement, the 19-year-old powerhouse has dropped her electrifying new single D.N.A. — a swaggering blast of funk-fuelled fun that showcases her evolution beyond the America’s Got Talent stage. Clocking in like a wild, streetwise cousin to “Uptown Funk”, D.N.A. is a riot of soul, sass and unfiltered personality. It captures Hadwin revelling in musical freedom, full of yelps, screams, soaring vocals, and infectious grooves. Written alongside GRAMMY®-winning producer Kevin Bowe (Etta James, Joe Cocker), the track channels the breathless chaos of a teenage crush — but with a wink and a whole lot of soul.
Courtney Hadwin
“D.N.A. is probably one of the most fun songs I’ve written,” Courtney explains. “It has no real song structure and it really captures the thoughts and feelings that come with the obsessive nature of a crush, but filled with humour, and still carrying that funk and soul throughout the song.”
For those who remember Hadwin as the 13-year-old whose jaw-dropping Janis Joplin-style performances on America’s Got Talent stunned global audiences, LITTLE MISS JAGGED is proof of just how far she’s come. Rather than chase the spotlight immediately after going viral, she opted for artistic introspection, using the past few years to refine her sound and identity. The result is an album that refuses to be boxed in. D.N.A. adds a playful funk edge to a tracklist that already includes the soul-stained heartbreak of You Only Love Me When I Lie — a ‘60s-style R&B ballad tipped as her future signature song — and the rebellious, pop-punk snarl of Spellbound. Together, they paint a picture of an artist unafraid to play with genres, moods, and emotion.
Set to drop on digital formats, LITTLE MISS JAGGED will also be released physically on limited edition signed black vinyl and digipak CD — both now available to pre-order. Hadwin has spent the past two years laying the groundwork for this moment, releasing a string of original singles (Monsters, That Girl Don’t Live Here) and racking up millions of streams. Her Live at Metropolis Studios video series, which showcases her electrifying live presence, has also drawn over a million views.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see her on stage — she’s set to headline the Fiddler’s Elbow in London on 30th May with her full live band. Tickets are in limited supply and expected to sell out fast.
From viral wunderkind to genre-blending auteur, Courtney Hadwin’s LITTLE MISS JAGGED is shaping up to be one of the year’s most compelling debut albums. If D.N.A. is anything to go by, this is Hadwin at her most fearless — and most fun.
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